Spray, jelly and antibiotics: How tea could transform in the next decade
Forget Bubble Tea, loose-leafed and the ever-civilised afternoon tea – this is what is set to happen to the nation's favourite hot beverage in the next 10 years.
Britons consume around 165m cups of tea everyday, but research from Tetley and the Future Foundation has predicted a wave of technology and personalisation innovations that could come to define our brews.
"We've blended the consumer trends we are predicting for 2026, with input from Tetley experts and elsewhere to develop a very compelling vision of tea in the future," Nick Chiarelli, director of the Future Foundation, said.
Wearable tech will get in on the action
Sensor-powered kitchen tea-makers will "deliver customised blends on health information from wearable tech".
This could ensure, for example, the extra caffeine and vitamin B6 is added if the tea drinker is feeling tired.
"Domestic blenders"
Hardened tea drinkers will have become "domestic blenders" in a decade, using "smart tools" and taking advantage of rising temperatures to grow tea plants at home and then blend and brew the leaves themselves.
Move aside, afternoon tea, you're set to be replaced (Source: Getty)
Jelly, tablet, spray, sorbets and syrups
We don't quite know how tea could come in spray form either, but the Future of Tea report has shown these could be some of the new ways we will be able to drink and/or consume it in future.
Read more: Kenya considering launching tea futures to stabilise prices
Remedy tea
Medicinal teas will boom by 2026, enriched with medicines of all sorts from painkillers to antibiotics.
These ready-made blends could help a range of ailments, from hangovers to hair loss, Tetley said.
"Britain's love affair with tea is enduring," Laurent Sagarra, head of product innovation at Tetley Global, said.
"The way we consume tea has gradually evolved since the 17th century, but now we are entering a period of rapid change.
"The Future of Tea provides a strong picture of consumer attitudes to health in 2026 and an entire spectrum of exciting product concepts, formats and technologies to explore."